Electrical connector assembly for retaining multiple processing units

ABSTRACT

An electrical connector assembly ( 100 ) for electrically connecting a plurality of processing units ( 1 ) to a printed circuit board ( 8 ) comprises a substrate ( 4 ) and a plurality of sockets ( 6 ) assembled on the substrate ( 4 ) for retaining the processing units ( 1 ) respectively, the substrate ( 4 ) comprises a top surface ( 41 ) and a bottom surface ( 42 ) opposite to each other, the top surface ( 41 ) comprises a plurality of first contact elements ( 411 ) and the bottom surface ( 42 ) comprises a plurality of second contact elements ( 421 ), the socket ( 6 ) comprises an insulative housing ( 3 ) and a plurality of contacts ( 2 ) received therein for electrically contacting with one of the processing units ( 1 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly, especially to an electrical connector assembly for retaining multiple processing units and the number of the central processing units can be set according to different requirements.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional processor has one core disposed therein. But with the development of the technology, the processor with one core can not satisfy the need. Thus, a processor with multiple cores is introduced. Generally, the multiple cores are encapsulated in a same package. When the processor is completed, the number of the cores is also determined. If customer needs a processor with more cores, the processor must be redesigned with a new one. This will increase the cost and the application is not flexible.

Hence, an improved processor with multiple cores is required to overcome the disadvantages mentioned above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide an electrical connector assembly with multiple sockets assembled on a substrate thereof and the sockets detachably retaining multiple processing units.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, an electrical connector assembly for electrically connecting a plurality of processing units to a printed circuit board comprises a substrate and a plurality of sockets assembled on the substrate for retaining the processing units respectively, the substrate comprises a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface, the top surface comprises a plurality of first contact elements and the bottom surface comprises a plurality of second contact elements, the socket each comprises an insulative housing and a plurality of contacts received therein for electrically contacting with the processing unit.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description of preferred embodiments, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an assembled view of the electrical connector assembly in accordance with the present invention, and a plurality of processing units are assembled to the electrical connector assembly;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the electrical connector assembly shown in FIG. 1, only showing one socket;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the contact of the electrical connector assembly shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the insulative housing of the electrical connector assembly shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the electrical connector assembly shown in FIG.1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, an electrical connector assembly 100 in accordance with the present invention is used for electrically connecting a plurality of processing units 1 to a printed circuit board 8. The electrical connector assembly 100 comprises a substrate 4 and a plurality of sockets 6 assembled on the substrate 4. The socket 6 comprises an insulative housing 3 and a plurality of contacts 2 received therein.

Please referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, the substrate 4 comprises a bottom surface 42 assembled to the printed circuit board 8 and a top surface 41 opposite to the bottom surface 42. The top surface 41 comprises a plurality of first contact elements 411, and the bottom surface 42 comprises a plurality of second contact elements 421. The top surface 41 also defines a plurality of holes 412 near the first contact element 411. The substrate 4 is electrically connected to the printed circuit board 8 through a plurality of solder balls 7 soldered to the printed circuit board 8.

Please referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the insulative housing 3 comprises a first surface 31 to support the processing unit 1 and a second surface 32 opposite to the first surface 31. The insulative housing 3 defines a plurality of passageways 312 extend from the first surface 31 to the second surface 32. The first surface 31 also has a pair of hooks 311, and the processing unit 1 defines a pair of recesses 110 to match with the hooks 311 to position the processing unit 1 on the insulative housing 3 securely. The bottom surface 32 has a pair of posts 321 to engage with the hole 412 of the substrate 4 respectively so as to position the socket 6 on the substrate 4 securely.

Please referring to FIG. 3, the contact 2 is received in the passageway 312 of the insulative housing 3 and comprises a body 20 assembled to the insulative housing 3, a first contact portion 21 extending beyond the first surface 31 and a second contact portion 22 extending beyond the second surface 32 of the insulative housing 3. The first contact portion 21 is used to contact with the processing unit 1 and the second contact portion 22 is used to contact with the first contact element 411.

Please referring to FIGS. 1-2, after the electrical connector assembly 100 is assembled. A plurality of sockets 6 are arranged on the substrate 4, and a plurality of processing units 1 are attached on the sockets 6 respectively. In the present invention, the processing unit 1 is a core. Therefore, the electrical connector assembly 100 and the multiple cores 1 form a central processing unit 200. Since the sockets 6 are detachably retained on the substrate 4 or the processing units 1 are detachably retained on the socket 6, the number of the processing units 1 can be elected according to different requirements. Furthermore, although the substrate 4 is soldered to the printed circuit board 8 directly, it also can be attached to the printed circuit board 8 via another socket such as a pin grid array socket by forming a plurality of pins on the bottom surface 42 of the structure to replace the second contact elements 421 or a land grid array socket.

While the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, the description of the invention is illustrative and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Various of modifications to the present invention can be made to preferred embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. An electrical connector assembly for electrically connecting a plurality of processing units to a printed circuit board, comprising: a substrate comprising a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to each other, the top surface comprising a plurality of first contact elements and the bottom surface comprising a plurality of second contact elements; a plurality of sockets assembled on the substrate for retaining the processing units respectively and each comprising an insulative housing with a plurality of contacts received for electrically contacting with one of the processing unit.
 2. The electrical connector assembly as described in claim 1, wherein the sockets are detachably arranged on the substrate.
 3. The electrical connector assembly as described in claim 1, wherein the sockets are irremovably retained on the substrate.
 4. The electrical connector assembly as described in claim 1, wherein the second contact elements are pads soldered to the printed circuit board via a plurality of solder balls respectively.
 5. The electrical connector assembly as described in claim 1, wherein the substrate is connected to another socket that assembled on the printed circuit board.
 6. The electrical connector assembly as described in claim 5, wherein the second contact elements are pins.
 7. The electrical connector assembly as described in claim 1, wherein the socket is assembled on the substrate by a securing member.
 8. The electrical connector assembly as described in claim 7, wherein the securing member is a hole defined on the substrate and a post mounted on the socket.
 9. The electrical connector assembly as described in claim 8, wherein the socket also comprises a hook to engage with the processing unit.
 10. The electrical connector assembly as described in claim 1, wherein the contact comprises a body assembled to the insulative housing, a first contact portion contacting with the processing unit and a second contact portion contacting with the first contact element of the substrate.
 11. A Central Processing Unit comprising: a substrate comprising a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to each other, the top surface comprising a plurality of first contact elements and the bottom surface comprising a plurality of second contact elements; a plurality of sockets assembled on the substrate and comprising an insulative housing with a plurality of contacts received therein; and a plurality of cores assembled to the sockets respectively, the contact being electrically connecting the core with the substrate.
 12. The Central Processing Unit as described in claim 11, wherein the core is detachably retained to the socket and the socket is also detachably retained on the substrate.
 12. The Central Processing Unit as described in claim 11, wherein the core is detachably retained to the socket and the socket is irremovably retained on the substrate.
 13. The Central Processing Unit as described in claim 11, wherein the core is irremovably retained to the socket and the socket is detachably retained on the substrate.
 14. The Central Processing Unit as described in claim 1, wherein the socket is assembled on the substrate by a securing member.
 15. The Central Processing Unit as described in claim 14, wherein the securing member is a hole defined on the substrate and a post mounted on the socket.
 16. The Central Processing Unit as described in claim 15, wherein the socket also comprises a hook engaging with the processing unit.
 17. An electrical assembly comprising: a printed circuit board defining an upper face; an electrical connector mounted upon the upper face to electrically connect to the printed circuit board, said connector including an insulative housing with a plurality of contacts therein, each of said contacts including an upper section upwardly extending above a top face of the housing and a lower section extending downwardly beyond a bottom face of the housing; and an electronic package assembled upon the housing to electrically connect to the connector; wherein said connector includes a latch on the top face to resist an upward force due to the upper sections of the contacts to hold the electronic package in position, and a post on the bottom face to position the connector upon the printed circuit board. 